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The State of World Population 2025 report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that socioeconomic barriers are the primary force driving the global fertility crisis rather than choice.

The State of World Population 2025 report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has revealed that socioeconomic barriers are the primary force driving the global fertility crisis rather than choice.

Working with the polling agency YouGov, the UNFPA surveyed 14,000 adults across 14 different countries, showing that the ideal number of children wanted was two. 18% of those surveyed, however, believed they would never have the number of children they desire.

UNFPA

Working with the polling agency YouGov, the UNFPA surveyed 14,000 adults across 14 different countries, showing that the ideal number of children wanted was two. 18% of those surveyed, however, believed they would never have the number of children they desire.

The survey highlighted economic factors as the most limiting reason, with 39% of the 10,000 who reported having or wanting children stating that financial barriers were the most significant, followed by employment and job security at 21% and housing at 19%.&nbsp;

The survey highlighted economic factors as the most limiting reason, with 39% of the 10,000 who reported having or wanting children stating that financial barriers were the most significant, followed by employment and job security at 21% and housing at 19%. 

Other factors included health issues, cited by one in four, fears for the future, such as war, political instability, or climate change, reported by 19%, partnership issues (14%), and the unequal division of household labor, reported by 11%.

Other factors included health issues, cited by one in four, fears for the future, such as war, political instability, or climate change, reported by 19%, partnership issues (14%), and the unequal division of household labor, reported by 11%.

As a result, the UNFPA dismissed analysis that falling marriage rates or rejection of parenthood are the cause of falling fertility, stating that “[f]ull reproductive agency remains elusive,” while warning that “coercive” policies or financial incentives to raise fertility fail in the long term and can backfire.

As a result, the UNFPA dismissed analysis that falling marriage rates or rejection of parenthood are the cause of falling fertility, stating that “[f]ull reproductive agency remains elusive,” while warning that “coercive” policies or financial incentives to raise fertility fail in the long term and can backfire.

The UNFPA’s solution is to empower people to “decide freely and responsibly on the number, spacing[,] and timing of their children” through quality healthcare, financial security, promoting equal partnerships, and creating “a more equitable, sustainable and[,] caring world.”

The UNFPA’s solution is to empower people to “decide freely and responsibly on the number, spacing[,] and timing of their children” through quality healthcare, financial security, promoting equal partnerships, and creating “a more equitable, sustainable and[,] caring world.”

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A YouGov poll conducted across 14 countries representing 37% of global population revealed that nearly one-fifth of respondents did not achieve their desired family size, with economic factors cited by 39% as the primary limitation.</span

A YouGov poll conducted across 14 countries representing 37% of global population revealed that nearly one-fifth of respondents did not achieve their desired family size, with economic factors cited by 39% as the primary limitation.

The Trump administration's funding cuts have eliminated over $330 million worth of UNFPA reproductive health projects, forcing closure of maternity wards in refugee camps like Jordan's Zaatari facility where midwives had delivered 18,000 babies without maternal deaths.</span

The Trump administration's funding cuts have eliminated over $330 million worth of UNFPA reproductive health projects, forcing closure of maternity wards in refugee camps like Jordan's Zaatari facility where midwives had delivered 18,000 babies without maternal deaths.

Women were nearly twice as likely as men to cite unequal division of domestic labor as a factor limiting family size, while both genders expressed fears about climate change, conflict, and global uncertainty affecting their reproductive decisions.</span

Women were nearly twice as likely as men to cite unequal division of domestic labor as a factor limiting family size, while both genders expressed fears about climate change, conflict, and global uncertainty affecting their reproductive decisions.

The report warns against coercive policies like baby bonuses or fertility targets, stating they are often ineffective and may backfire, with people reacting negatively when they perceive reproductive choices as being steered by governments.</span

The report warns against coercive policies like baby bonuses or fertility targets, stating they are often ineffective and may backfire, with people reacting negatively when they perceive reproductive choices as being steered by governments.

Research from the Institute for Family Studies indicates that declining marriage rates account for approximately 75% of fertility decline since 2007, with married women maintaining significantly higher birth rates than unmarried women across all age groups.</span

Institute for Family Studies

Research from the Institute for Family Studies indicates that declining marriage rates account for approximately 75% of fertility decline since 2007, with married women maintaining significantly higher birth rates than unmarried women across all age groups.

Marriage remains the strongest predictor of fertility, with declining marriage rates explaining three-quarters of recent fertility drops. Married couples continue having children at historical rates, suggesting the real issue isn't rejection of parenthood but delayed family formation.

Marriage remains the strongest predictor of fertility, with declining marriage rates explaining three-quarters of recent fertility drops. Married couples continue having children at historical rates, suggesting the real issue isn't rejection of parenthood but delayed family formation.

Yes, Marriage Still Matters For Fertility: New Evidence

Abortion

UN Report: Economic Barriers Block Desired Family Size

World

Health

For decades, governments from across the world have tried to engineer fertility rates through policies ranging from coercion to financial incentives. These measures, however, have consistently failed to impact long-term fertility and have, at times, had unintended consequences. To address the global fertility crisis, countries must empower their citizens, many of whom desire children, by removing the social and economic barriers that constrain their choices.

For decades, governments from across the world have tried to engineer fertility rates through policies ranging from coercion to financial incentives. These measures, however, have consistently failed to impact long-term fertility and have, at times, had unintended consequences. To address the global fertility crisis, countries must empower their citizens, many of whom desire children, by removing the social and economic barriers that constrain their choices.

The real fertility crisis The pursuit of reproductive agency in a changing world

The primary driver of falling fertility rates is the decline of marriage as a social convention. In America alone, research suggests that 75% of the decline in fertility since 2007 is due to falling marriage rates, as those who did marry had children just like their parents and grandparents. Consequently, the solution is a pro-marriage agenda that provides economic support and opportunities for young people who choose to tie the knot.

The primary driver of falling fertility rates is the decline of marriage as a social convention. In America alone, research suggests that 75% of the decline in fertility since 2007 is due to falling marriage rates, as those who did marry had children just like their parents and grandparents. Consequently, the solution is a pro-marriage agenda that provides economic support and opportunities for young people who choose to tie the knot.

UN Report: Socioeconomic Barriers Block Desired Family Size

UN Report: EconomicSocioeconomic Barriers Block Desired Family Size

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